Supervision: The Absolute, #1 Best Way to Keep Your Dog and Baby Home Calm and Safe
The most frequent comment I hear from my dog training clients who experience problems between their dog and baby is this: “I just didn’t realize how closely I needed to supervise.”
Keeping your attention focused on your dog and baby when they’re together will avoid problems, keep your home safe, and make your life so much easier!
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT SAFE SUPERVISION
Question: What does safe supervision really mean?
Answer: It means that any time your dog is near your baby, you’re there too, close enough to keep problems from happening. Dogs can paw at babies, bump into them, try to grab food from them, and may try to play roughly. Some dogs are nervous around babies and can react in unexpected ways if the baby makes a sudden move or starts to cry. If something like this happens, watching from across the room won’t help. You need to be right there, close to your baby.
Question: Who should supervise?
Answer: There should always be a responsible adult present when dogs and babies are together. That goes for toddlers too. Read my blog Dogs, Babies and Food - NOT a Good Threesome! for a story about a toddler named Brian and the family dog. Any adult watching the baby should know where the dog is and be close enough to step in and move dog and baby apart if a problem starts to occur.
Question: When should dog and baby be supervised?
Answer: A responsible adult should be supervising dog and baby any time they’re near each other and the dog has access to the baby. Dogs don’t understand that babies are small, delicate creatures that can be easily hurt, so there needs to be an adult right there any time they’re together. And if your dog is one of those who is nervous around the baby, it’s just as important for you to be there monitoring the situation.
Following the guidelines above can be pretty easy when you’re right there and your full attention is focused on your baby. But what about those many times when you’re busy with something else? Parents with babies and toddlers have so much to do that it’s impossible to be fully aware of dog and baby at all times.
There are meals to prepare and eat, all kinds of household tasks, finding time for a shower, answering the phone and making important calls, and something as simple as making a quick trip the to bathroom. The list goes on....
How do you do everything you have to do and still keep your attention on your dog when he’s near your baby? The short answer is you can’t! So what’s a busy parent to do?
Fortunately, there another way of keeping your home safe, and also calm, so you can be relaxed as you go through your day, knowing that you don’t need to be concerned about your dog. The solution is something that dog trainers call Management.
MANAGEMENT: KEEPING THINGS SAFE WHEN YOU’RE BUSY OR DISTRACTED
Management involves setting up your home to prevent problems between dog and baby. Management means that when you can’t be there to supervise, your dog is safely prevented from being close to your baby. That way you know that there won’t be a problem between them, and you can go about your activities with a clear mind and a relaxed, confident attitude.
You might be wondering how to use management effectively and still keep your dog happy. Many dogs are not used to being separated from the rest of the family and don’t like being confined when they’re in the house. If this describes your dog, here are 2 tips to help make his time away from the baby more pleasant for him.
TIP #1: Practice any new changes with your dog, introducing what’s new to him and keeping your practice times short, just 3-5 minutes, and using lots of rewards. If your dog likes food more than anything else, pick out a special food treat and use it just for the new behavior. For example, if you’re teaching your dog to be calm and quiet when he’s behind a baby gate, give him that special treat only when he’s behind the gate. If he gets that treat just in that situation, he’ll quickly learn to love being on the other side of the gate.
TIP #2: Give your dog something fun to do while he’s kept away from the baby. If he likes to chew, a special chew toy that he gets only when he’s separated from the baby will not only keep him busy, it will also reduce any stress he might be feeling; chewing is a great tension releaser for dogs. Does your dog have a favorite toy? He might want that toy with him when he’s alone. Make sure you don’t leave your dog by himself so long that he gets lonesome. Short times away from baby will work best for your dog, especially in the beginning.
USING MANAGEMENT FOR DOG AND BABY SAFETY
Below is a list of different ways to use management to keep your home running smoothly, with a calm dog and a relaxed parent. Any time you can’t keep your full attention on your dog around your baby, it’s a good time to make use of these management safety tools.
1. Put a baby gate between your dog and your baby.
2. Your dog can be in a crate or kennel for a short time, with a nice chew toy to work on while he’s in the crate.
3. Put your dog in a room alone, with the door closed, again with a chew toy or interactive food toy.
4. If you have a safely fenced yard, put your dog in the yard for a little while. Please don’t leave your dog in the yard too long or too often unless he really enjoys being outside by himself. Dogs can get very lonely when they’re separated from the family for long periods of time.
5. Send your dog out with a dog walker.
6. Share doggie play dates with friends or family.
7. Brainstorm with your family and friends about how to manage your dog when you’re busy or distracted. Who knows, someone might offer to invite your dog over for a visit!
THE MOST IMPORTANT SUPERVISION RULE
Never leave your dog and baby alone, even for a few seconds. If they’re together and you have to leave the room, take one (or both) with you.
Need help working out the relationship between your dog and baby? Want some assistance in teaching your dog new safe behaviors? Check out the Work with Jane page, or email me at jane@yourdogandbaby.com. I’m here to help!